Devastated Beyond Belief

LAM · 08-02-2011, 09:01 PM

Hi -
I'm new to this forum and am hoping for some insight into what may have happened to our beautiful dog two weeks ago.
Heidi was 9 1/2 and had slowed down a bit the past several months but still enjoyed going for walks and playing with her toys & tennis balls.
My husband had taken her for a walk in the morning, stopped to talk to people along the way and she appeared to be fine. Four hours later, she just collapsed and was gone.
Our vet (of many years) never asked what happened or offered any explanation as to what she thinks may have happened to our beloved Heidi. No phone call, no card - very disappointing.
I thought our beautiful girl would be with us several more years. I've spoken to a few people whose shepherds lived for only 9 or 10 years. Is this the norm? I've had dogs in the past (not GSDs) who lived to be really old. I know large breeds have a shorter lifespan but 9 1/2 years? This makes no sense.
Heidi was my "dream dog". We are heartbroken.

zyppi · 08-02-2011, 09:08 PM

I'm so sorry!

Could have been a stroke but I don't really have an idea.

Most of my dogs have lived longer than 9 years.

sagelfn · 08-02-2011, 09:20 PM

Very sorry for your loss.

Without an autopsy there is no way to know for sure what happened.

9 is early from what I have seen. Most seem to make it to 11-12yrs.

lisgje · 08-02-2011, 09:27 PM

I am so very sorry for your loss.

DharmasMom · 08-02-2011, 09:31 PM

I am so very sorry!! With out a necropsy there really is no way to tell. It is a shame your vet was not more compassionate. My mom just had her 13 year old greyhound PTS. Her vet and the vet tech hugged her after it was over they also sent a card that was signed by the entire office. When I had my bunny PTS last fall, I took him to a vet that we had never seen before. They were wonderful and even sent me a card that was signed by everyone there.

It is so absolutely devastating to lose your best friend, you need the compassion from your vet and it makes you feel good to know that they care. I am doubly sorry that you did not receive this. You are truly in my thoughts.

**jocoyn** · 08-02-2011, 10:14 PM

No explanations here but so sorry for your sudden loss and that your vet showed no more compassion.

RebelGSD · 08-02-2011, 10:15 PM

I am very sorry for your loss.
Hemangiosarcoma is very common in GSDs of that age, it can kill a dog suddenly by causing massive internal bleeding. You will find many threads about it.

katieliz · 08-02-2011, 10:42 PM

sad to say double digits in age is probably the exception rather than the rule in this breed. i'm wondering if hemangiosarcoma is a possibility. hemangio can be silent and quick.

i am so very, very sorry for the loss of your beloved heidi.

katieliz · 08-02-2011, 10:45 PM

also meant to add that your vet's behavior is unacceptable. totally unacceptable. yes, rebel, hemangio is the first thing i thought of.

and to the OP...welcome to the board, there are many here who understand the pain of losing one of these special dogs.

shilohsmom · 08-03-2011, 11:57 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss. Its really impossible to tell at this point what happened. I tend to think hemangio but who knows. I am just as sorry to hear about the response you had from your Vet. That is so unacceptable. When you decide to add another dog to your life be sure to find a new Vet as well.

08-02-2011, 09:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
LAM New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 5	Devastated Beyond Belief Hi - I'm new to this forum and am hoping for some insight into what may have happened to our beautiful dog two weeks ago. Heidi was 9 1/2 and had slowed down a bit the past several months but still enjoyed going for walks and playing with her toys & tennis balls. My husband had taken her for a walk in the morning, stopped to talk to people along the way and she appeared to be fine. Four hours later, she just collapsed and was gone. Our vet (of many years) never asked what happened or offered any explanation as to what she thinks may have happened to our beloved Heidi. No phone call, no card - very disappointing. I thought our beautiful girl would be with us several more years. I've spoken to a few people whose shepherds lived for only 9 or 10 years. Is this the norm? I've had dogs in the past (not GSDs) who lived to be really old. I know large breeds have a shorter lifespan but 9 1/2 years? This makes no sense. Heidi was my "dream dog". We are heartbroken.

08-02-2011, 09:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
zyppi Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Back home to Louisiana! Posts: 4,945	I'm so sorry! Could have been a stroke but I don't really have an idea. Most of my dogs have lived longer than 9 years. __________________ Anne Nothing is as simple as it seems or as complicated as we make it~ Attitude is everything -- Pick a good one! Sofie AKA Ussina vom Haus Brezel Jack von Jagenstadt Tatty - Burmese bad cat

08-02-2011, 09:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
sagelfn Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,748	Very sorry for your loss. Without an autopsy there is no way to know for sure what happened. 9 is early from what I have seen. Most seem to make it to 11-12yrs. __________________ -Brandi Sage 6-5-09 Facebook

08-02-2011, 09:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
DharmasMom Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 2,587	I am so very sorry!! With out a necropsy there really is no way to tell. It is a shame your vet was not more compassionate. My mom just had her 13 year old greyhound PTS. Her vet and the vet tech hugged her after it was over they also sent a card that was signed by the entire office. When I had my bunny PTS last fall, I took him to a vet that we had never seen before. They were wonderful and even sent me a card that was signed by everyone there. It is so absolutely devastating to lose your best friend, you need the compassion from your vet and it makes you feel good to know that they care. I am doubly sorry that you did not receive this. You are truly in my thoughts. __________________ Debbi- Mom to: Dharma- GSD (2009) Oreo- beloved bunny waiting at the bridge for me. RIP little boo. (2002-2010) Tessa- 11yo GSD- Waiting at the Bridge for me. RIP sweet girl.

08-02-2011, 10:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
jocoyn Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,050	No explanations here but so sorry for your sudden loss and that your vet showed no more compassion. __________________ Nancy www.scsarda.org Grim (Grimmy Bear) & Beau (Bo-dee man) Waiting at the Bridge: Cyra, Toby, Rainbow, Linus, Oscar, Arlo & Waggles

08-02-2011, 09:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
lisgje Master Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 750	I am so very sorry for your loss.

08-02-2011, 10:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
RebelGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,706	I am very sorry for your loss. Hemangiosarcoma is very common in GSDs of that age, it can kill a dog suddenly by causing massive internal bleeding. You will find many threads about it.

08-02-2011, 10:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
katieliz Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: york township, mi Posts: 6,323	sad to say double digits in age is probably the exception rather than the rule in this breed. i'm wondering if hemangiosarcoma is a possibility. hemangio can be silent and quick. i am so very, very sorry for the loss of your beloved heidi. __________________ mom to seraphina blue & the cashman miss jeni-take-a-ride, rescued 7/07 shangri la's great white caesar, rescued 4/09 hearthside's cinderfella (RIP 4/20/09) shep von bellefontaine (RIP 6/9/10) voodoo lily (dsh) & cricket (african grey)

08-02-2011, 10:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
katieliz Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: york township, mi Posts: 6,323	also meant to add that your vet's behavior is unacceptable. totally unacceptable. yes, rebel, hemangio is the first thing i thought of. and to the OP...welcome to the board, there are many here who understand the pain of losing one of these special dogs. __________________ mom to seraphina blue & the cashman miss jeni-take-a-ride, rescued 7/07 shangri la's great white caesar, rescued 4/09 hearthside's cinderfella (RIP 4/20/09) shep von bellefontaine (RIP 6/9/10) voodoo lily (dsh) & cricket (african grey)

08-03-2011, 11:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
shilohsmom Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 6,653	I'm so sorry for your loss. Its really impossible to tell at this point what happened. I tend to think hemangio but who knows. I am just as sorry to hear about the response you had from your Vet. That is so unacceptable. When you decide to add another dog to your life be sure to find a new Vet as well. __________________ Rosa Mom to; Shiloh, 8.5 year old LCGSD Shoshona, 7.5 year old LCGSD Eli, 5 year old LCGSD Every dog deserves to have a human that thinks they are the greatest dog that ever lived!

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